Björk Starts Karaoke Marathon for Iceland’s Nature

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Björk Starts Karaoke Marathon for Iceland’s Nature

January 05, 2011 14:25Updated: January 30, 2014 20:16

A karaoke marathon and song festival dedicated to Iceland’s nature as part of Björk’s campaign to win back the country’s natural resources will begin in the Nordic House in Reykjavík at 3 pm tomorrow, Threttándinn, which is the official Last Day of Christmas.

The Nordic House. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.

The Nordic House will be transformed into a fancy karaoke club with an open bar. The goal is to sing from 3 pm to midnight for three days, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, not only in the Nordic House but also in other locations around the country, Selfoss, Akureyri and Bolungarvík.

Many of Iceland's best known musicians will perform, including Björk herself, who will sing a duet with Ómar Ragnarsson, a press release states.

“Elves, hidden people, sportspeople, hobby musicians and professionals… everyone who cares for Iceland, come and join forces and perform a powerful ode to the nature of Iceland. Let’s bring our natural resources back to us with song,” it reads.

In an interview with Fréttabladid, Björk said it is no coincidence that Threttándinn was chosen for the karaoke marathon. She believes the country’s spirits will help further her campaign and persuade more people to sign the petition she launched.

Threttándinn is considered a magical day in Icelandic folklore when supernatural beings came out from their hidden world and walked among humans. The day is traditionally celebrated with bonfires and fireworks shows.

Björk said in the interview that Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir had declared that if 15 percent of voters (approximately 35,000 people) sign a petition revoking Canadian Magma Energy’s acquisition agreement of Icelandic energy company HS Orka, it cannot be ignored by the authorities.

More than 20,000 people have signed the petition already and Björk is certain that the remaining signatures will be gathered during the karaoke marathon. The petition demands: "Icelandic natural resources shall be owned and governed by the public."

“For 100 years good people protected our natural resources and public interest. In the outvasion period the sale of natural resources and irresponsible access to them began. Now it is time to stop that unfortunate development,” the press release declares.